The original residence of the Palace of Versailles was built between 1631 and 1634 and served as a hunting lodge and private retreat for Louis XIII and his family. Under Louis XIV, it was transformed into an immense and extravagant complex starting in 1661 until 1710 which included stylized English and French gardens, with every detail being glorified by the king. In 1682 it was declared the official royal residence and the official residence of the court of France. The palace became abandoned after the death of Louis XIV in 1715. In 1722, however, its status was returned to it as a royal residence and further additions were made to it prior to the French Revolution. In 1789 during the French Revolution the palace was nearly destroyed but was restored by Louis-Philippe. By the 20th century its utility is almost exclusively from tourism and is visited by millions of people from all over the world every year. Some of the most famous rooms in the palace are the Hall of Mirrors, the Grand Apartments, Salon of Peace, and the Salon of War. The Treaty of Versailles that ended World War 1 was actually signed in the Palace of Versailles in the Galerie des Glaces.
"Palace of Versailles (palace, Versailles, France)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 05 June 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/626457/Palace-of-Versailles>.
"Palace of Versailles (palace, Versailles, France)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 05 June 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/626457/Palace-of-Versailles>.